The reading room provides the public with access to national, European and international IP documentation so that they can perform their own searches. PATLIB staff advises the public how to search and how to retrieve relevant documents. Visitors may search IP databases free-of-charge using the workstations provided.

Search services

The PATLIB centre carries out IP searches for the public. This service may range from relatively basic bibliographic searches (e.g. for a patent number, an applicant's or inventor's name, or the legal status of an application) to highly sophisticated searches concerning technical areas (state-of-the-art, novelty and infringement searches). Explanatory information, comments and interpretations of the search results may be provided with the search reports.

The PATLIB centre provides information on IP procedures, different kinds of IP rights, the requirements for filing an IP application, fees, search possibilities, etc. Legal advice is not included in this service.